The Minority in Parliament is calling for a thorough audit of Ghana's energy sector to determine the full extent of its rising debt. According to the caucus, the sector's debt has surpassed $2 billion, a figure they attribute to what they describe as the government’s mismanagement of funds under the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA).

Furthermore, the group highlights the Ministry of Finance's failure to settle GH¢1.8 billion in electricity bills owed by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) since August 2023. This outstanding debt, they argue, has placed immense strain on the power sector.

Addressing the media, John Jinapor, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Energy Committee, accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government of deliberately mismanaging the energy sector, leaving it in a precarious state for a potential future administration under John Dramani Mahama.

“PURC based on its statement, has indicated that ECG is not abiding with the Cash Waterfall Mechanism and it is the mechanism that allows companies and entities throughout the energy sector value chain to get some revenue or payment, that has been jettisoned. As if that is not enough, the Ministry of Finance, since August 2023 has not paid up even a Cedi for power consumed by ministries, departments and agencies.

“From our rough estimates, that debt alone amounts to GH¢1.8 billion. Clearly, they are just trying to manage the system and hand over a dilapidated, ageing equipment, collapsed energy sector to President Mahama When he assumes office.”

“A lot of work awaits President Mahama when he assumes office. The energy sector debt alone, based on our rough estimate, is around $2 billion as we speak. They are misapplying the energy sector levy revenues and they are also misapplying the energy sector recovery levies,” John Jinapor added.